My gt grandparents married several years before my grandfather was born. I had only known he had a younger brother who he had fallen out with. However my aunt told me that at some point there was a child who had died young in the family. I discovered that he had been born prematurely and only lived for hours. The newspaper reported his inquest. My aunt never knew about this uncle as she had died before I made the discovery.
A great find but what struck me was the inconsistency between the 2 newspaper reports and the Inquest.
" ... on Monday Giles as usual fetched some water from the river in tin buckets, and returning a second time for some he did not come back to the house ..."
Maitland Mercury (NSW), 30 October 1852, p. 2
And
"was on a visit to his grandmother, Mrs. Foreman, of Narrowgut, and his visit to the river side with a tin bucket was contrary to the repeated injunctions of his grandmother and uncle, who never knowingly allowed him to venture there to fetch water"
Inquest - Maitland Mercury (NSW), 6 November 1852, p. 2
The family's reputation certainly played a part in asking for the newspaper correction. They wanted everyone to know that he wasn't employed on the farm, that he was a loved son, grandson and nephew and he had been told repeatedly not to go near the water. I can see Frederick saying "I can do it Grandma!" and she said "Yes, but be careful". When the bucket fell in, he tried to get it out so he wouldn't be scolded for losing it and slipped in.
A great find Diane but a sad story. When I read newspaper articles of deaths of young children, I always think of the trauma of the family. It must have been dreadful for them.
Especially when his parents were not there at the time. He was their first child. His mother had a number of miscarriages and it was another ten years before the next child was safety born.
My gt grandparents married several years before my grandfather was born. I had only known he had a younger brother who he had fallen out with. However my aunt told me that at some point there was a child who had died young in the family. I discovered that he had been born prematurely and only lived for hours. The newspaper reported his inquest. My aunt never knew about this uncle as she had died before I made the discovery.
It is a great feeling to discover unknown or missing family and make them known.
How heartbreaking, yet comforting to be the one to bring this boy back and have him remembered. 🥹
A great find but what struck me was the inconsistency between the 2 newspaper reports and the Inquest.
" ... on Monday Giles as usual fetched some water from the river in tin buckets, and returning a second time for some he did not come back to the house ..."
Maitland Mercury (NSW), 30 October 1852, p. 2
And
"was on a visit to his grandmother, Mrs. Foreman, of Narrowgut, and his visit to the river side with a tin bucket was contrary to the repeated injunctions of his grandmother and uncle, who never knowingly allowed him to venture there to fetch water"
Inquest - Maitland Mercury (NSW), 6 November 1852, p. 2
Interesting?
That struck me, too. It seemed like a bit of "blame shifting" at work.
The family's reputation certainly played a part in asking for the newspaper correction. They wanted everyone to know that he wasn't employed on the farm, that he was a loved son, grandson and nephew and he had been told repeatedly not to go near the water. I can see Frederick saying "I can do it Grandma!" and she said "Yes, but be careful". When the bucket fell in, he tried to get it out so he wouldn't be scolded for losing it and slipped in.
A great find Diane but a sad story. When I read newspaper articles of deaths of young children, I always think of the trauma of the family. It must have been dreadful for them.
Especially when his parents were not there at the time. He was their first child. His mother had a number of miscarriages and it was another ten years before the next child was safety born.